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Masterful Musings

Drivel From the Ketchup Boy

Blind Optimism: LJ Idol, Week 6

I've always said, and rightly, that being blind requires a great deal oftrust. Many's the time you have to trust the person leading you, theperson driving you, etc., to know what they're doing, and to be reliableas a person, even though you may have just met the person minutes ago.

But as I sit here reflecting, I realize that hope and trusting gohand-in-hand. I trust person A, and I then must hope that person A isworthy of that trust.

The place: The West Edmonton Mall in Edmonton, Alberta. The time:Reading Week, 1991, my last year in college. The girl: Arlene; student,friend, fellow choir member.

At the center of the mall is a place called Fantasy Land. It's basicallyan amusement park inside the mall, with roller coaster, water slides,and so on. One of the rides you can go on, or at least you could backthen, is the Drop of Doom. Basically, you pay a lot of money so you canfall. Manitoba winters give us this privilege at no charge, though Ihave no doubt the government is even now trying to figure out a way toput a tax on it. I hope they don't. So anyway, I had taken thisride several times. Apparently I had more money than I knew what to dowith, a notion that seems incongruous with most of my memories ofcollege life. But I was tired of this ride, so when Arlene, who wasleading me around, wanted to go on it yet again, I opted out. "Show me aplace to sit," I implored, "and I'll just wait this one out." Ihoped she would accept my request. She did.

And so, I sat there and waited, hoping she had not forgotten me.I waited, I hoped. I hoped, I waited. And just when I got to feelingthat Arlene wasn't coming back for me, she didn't come back for me.

It was about an hour and a half later. I was still sitting in my happylittle corner, contemplating whether or not I'd ever get back togetherwith my family, loved ones, and former friend (my thoughts about Arlenewere not especially charitable at this point, although I hoped tosee her again at some point so I could spell out in considerable detailmy opinions of that afternoon's proceedings). Just when I was beginningto lose hope, a friendly voice (not Arlene's) asked, "Have you beenforgotten?"

Quick math break. Had I? I'd been waiting for the last hour and a half.Arlene's falling-down ride lasted for, oh, eight seconds. I decided Imust have been, and said so. I thus got reunited with the choir, stillhoping for a chance at a little chitchat with dear Arlene.

Several hours later, I was in a food court, drinking a well-deservedCoke, when Arlene appeared on the scene. My hopes had beenfulfilled. I waited for the apology, I waited for a chance to give her acold reception. I did not get the former, but got more than ampleopportunity for the latter. Her first words to me: not "Oh man, I'msorry, Bruce", not "Oh my gosh, Bruce, I totally forgot", not even "HiBruce, did you enjoy sitting in a corner all afternoon?" Her first wordsto me were: "Bruce, can I borrow five bucks?" I hoped she waskidding. That hope was not realized. She was dead serious. I, too, wasdeadly serious in my absolute, flat-out, indignant refusal.

I did eventually forgive Arlene, though I made it a point of taking mysweet time letting her know that all was forgiven. Watching her suck upto me was the most entertainment I'd had in a long time. So the storyhas a happy ending, and I hope you enjoyed it.

Comments

Seems, indeed, that many sighted friends/acquaintances tend to "forget" about us blindies a lot when we ask for their assistance in leading us around in unfamiliar situations. I've had this happen on more than a few occasions. usually, what I do is, if the other person is carrying around a cell phone is to get their name and number so that I can get a hold of them wherever they are if they happen to "forget" and so that we can thus hook up again.

Itis still a little disheartening, though, you know, the fact that we often seem so insignificant to them?

Very good point. You have to forgive someone over time.. I did the same thing after high school, although it took five years for me to forgive someone for the things that happened to me... it is all in God's time.

Wow, that's ridiculous on her part. She could've at least asked how you were first. I've dealt with people who've gotten so swept up in whatever they were doing that they forgot to help me with whatever the issue was. I guess most blind folks have.